Bobby Decordova-Reid got the only goal of the game - his fourth in five matches - on 26 minutes
Bobby Decordova-Reid kept up his recent hot scoring spree as Fulham beat struggling Stoke City to go third in the Championship.
Stoke remain just outside the bottom three despite being on the wrong end of the Cottagers' fourth straight home league win.
Fulham lost 2-0 at Stoke on 19 October, one of only six Championship games the Potters have won this season.
But Scott Parker's side put that right - although it took until the 16th minute for the hosts to create anything memorable.
Jack Butland pulled off a fine parry to keep out a drive from Aleksandar Mitrovic, the Championship's top scorer.
Mitrovic then headed a decent chance over before Decordova-Reid broke the deadlock in the 26th minute.
Butland stretched to stop Anthony Knockaert's low shot from creeping in at the far post, but the former Bristol City and Cardiff City striker was lurking for a tap-in.
Stoke were more menacing after the break, Sam Clucas smashing a drive into the side netting and Tom Ince screwing an effort wide.
But it was Fulham left-back Joe Bryan who came closest to adding to the scoreline with a shot from a corner routine that Butland did well to tip over.
Fulham are again in home action on New Year's Day, when Stoke go to Huddersfield.
Fulham head coach Scott Parker:
"The be all and end all was to get the three points and the first 45 minutes was the best I have seen us play all year.
"The only negative I had was that we didn't go in more than one up. At half-time we knew Stoke would put us under pressure and we spoke about showing another side to us.
"We knew it might turn into a bit of a slugfest and it proved that way. What was most pleasing was that we did show that other side - sometimes I have doubted that this year."
Stoke City manager Michael O'Neill told BBC Radio Stoke:
"We're disappointed. In the second half we really pushed Fulham, and I can't fault the players for attitude and application.
"In the first half, we were second best, we were half a yard short all over the pitch. Fulham were good, they moved the ball well and we struggled to apply the pressure we would have liked.
"But on the second half performance I felt we deserved to get something from the game."
